Former Bafana Bafana international Benson Mhlongo says it is too early for the national team head coach Hugo Broos to give up on Njabulo Blom.
The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder has snubbed the national call-up for the second time now since he made the move to St. Louis City.
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Speaking during his squad announcement on Friday, Broos said Blom sent them a message on Monday saying he would not be honouring the call-up due to a shoulder injury.
He was asked to send a medical report, and two days later, the player sent another message saying he was now ready to play.
South Africa will take on Benin at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 18 November and travel to Rwanda on 21 November in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Mhlongo believes Blom might be getting bad advice elsewhere.
"It can be his business manager or his club trying to protect him from getting injured," Mhlongo tells KickOff.
"Some of the decisions might destroy careers. Broos needs to sit him down and make him understand that in football some will like you and some will not like you.
"He needs to be advised not to be cut off. That way we will be destroying our players. It's just about decision-making.
"If a child makes a mistake, we should be guiding him as adults. As a national team coach, you call him and sit him down.
"We can't be giving second chances to people who are misbehaving, skipping training and drinking and give up on players who are making small mistakes.
"Blom needs our guidance. For him to change his mind shows turning down the call-up it was not his decision but the club's decision.
"He changed his mind because the club and his agent realised, they were going to be exposed. It was not his decision."
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